Take 50% off adoption fees with our Home for the Holidays Adoption Special when you bring a horse home by Dec. 31!

2024 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Freddy has very good ground manners and will quietly follow his handler.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - Freddy has learned to stand patiently on the crossties but is still figuring out the boundaries so he stays supervised. To ensure a comfortable saddle fit he will require some specialty pads such as a riser because of his back conformation.
• Horse Care - Level 2 - We pulled Freddy’s racing plates and have been able to keep him barefoot as he gets restarted but he may require front shoes as his work level increases. He is in under a fan during the heat of the day and will stall walk if settling into a new facility or if he runs out of hay- hanging a hay net has helped. He plays well with others during turnout but does trend towards the bottom of the pecking order so a kind pasture buddy would be the best fit.
• Riding - Level 2 - You must check out Freddy's video to see his lovely movement! Freddy is still green and can get a little confused when initially asked to go to the right but if you quietly show him the way he is happy to oblige! He is forward-thinking and a very big mover with a massive step so a less experienced rider may find him a little intimidating. All that expression will become more controlled and refined as his training continues, we think he would make quite a nice dressage prospect. Freddy does play with his tongue under saddle.
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - 2 - Freddy is such a sweet, willing guy who has totally embraced his new life. He has only recently came off the track and is still quite fit so it’s pretty impressive how quiet and laid back he’s been since his arrival.
• Physical Capability - Level 5 - Freddy retired sound with no known injury history so we would expect him to be unlimited in his new career.

 click for horse level information 

Interested in this horse? Already approved adopters may reach out to this horse's trainer at the "Email About This Horse" button above for further information. Still need to become approved? Learn about the process and start your questionnaire at newvocations.org/adopt. Approved applications are valid for 2 years.

ABOUT OUR ADOPTION FEES

New Vocations intentionally sets our horses’ adoption fees lower than the average cost of buying a Thoroughbreds or Standardbreds from a private seller (in today’s market, horses coming right off the track are often listed at $5,000 to $10,000!).

Our facilities are nearly always at max capacity, which means we can’t take in a new horse until one is adopted. Keeping our adoption fees low helps us find appropriate homes for horses quickly, thereby enabling us to assist even more horses transition off the track as stalls open up in our barns! In that way, when you adopt a horse through New Vocations, you’re actually helping two horses: your new family member and the one who takes his place in our program!

While our adoption fees are low, it’s important to remember that costs associated with the ongoing care and additional training for a horse (adopted or otherwise!) can be high. We hope that by helping adopters save money upfront, you’ll have more funds available to cover the costs of properly caring for and training a retired racehorse.

In general, our fees range around $3,500, $2,500, $1,000, and Under $1,000:

• $3,500: This range is for horses considered unlimited in their physical ability or those with exceptional qualities that would make them an upper- or high-level equine athlete.
  
  
• $2,000 - $2,500: This range is for horses we consider physically capable of a mid- to high-level second career. They have few or relatively minor limitations.
  
  
• $1,000 - $1,500: This range is for horses best-suited for a low- to mid-level career. They may have sustained an injury but have been fully treated and rehabbed. These horses have been examined by and cleared by our veterinarians for most disciplines, possibly up to a certain level (for example, suitable for a career jumping 2’0” but not suitable for a 3’6” career).
  
  
• Under $1,000: This range is for horses that could be harder to place in a perfect situation or those with more limited athletic potential (for example, possibly suitable for flat-work only) but are still capable of a successful second career. They have been evaluated by our veterinarians and are otherwise healthy.

Another perk of adopting from us? We do all we can to give you the most value for your adoption fee. Most adoptable horses have been in the program for a minimum of 60 days, during which they're rehabilitated (if needed), socialized with other horses, evaluated by trainers and veterinarians, and in regular training with a professional; on average, the monetary value of these services exceeds $5,000. Any medical records (often including X-ray and ultrasounds) and pertinent history we have on each horse is also available to interested and approved adopters.